Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/7/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
How many ancient cave paintings,before human civilization have been discovered? Have they been discovered throughout the world or in just certain regions or region the world and what are the oldest dates on these cave paintings?
Answer -
Eric,  

Cave paintings, rock art, pictoglyphs etc... are found in many parts of the world.  Obviously where there are no caves, there is no cave art.  Our ancestors were very creative and used a variety of pigments to depict hunts, people, spirits, animals and even boats and structures.

As to a diffinitive number, I don't think they have ever been counted but I am sure that it numbers in the many thousands.    The oldest ones, based on C-14 dating, are well over 50,000 years old.  However to date these very fragile paintings means the partial destruction of that painting to get enough pigment for the test.  Most researchers are reluctant to do this and I quite understand.  I know of one researcher who is attempting to find other dating methods based on the soot from the torches used to light the walls but this has also proven difficult.

Rock art is found in Africa, Australia, North America, Asia, South Asia, Europe and South America.

Do cave paintings, rock art, pictoglyphs etc, found on all continents all have date ranges to 20,000-50,000 years or only certain continents have such old cave paintings.Also do the more younger the cave paintings get, do they get found in more numbers, since it would be logical that it  follows the world population curve.  

Answer
The cave paintings in Europe appear to be the oldest being over 50,000 years old.  Those of the the Americas are less then 20,000 years old and those in Australia are less then 35,000 years old.  The pictoglyphs of North Africa may be 100,000 years old or older.  The age of those in parts of Asia are also more then 50,000 years old espcially those in the Caucusus Mountians.  

Do they increase in numbers as the population grows?  In all likelihood yes. As man spread across the globe, he brought his art and beliefs with him and this translates to an expansion of this art.